Marsh Creek 1 - Stream Characteristics

Overview

The Marsh Creek site is a rocky bottom stream as defined by the Adopt-A-Stream criteria for "Determining Stream Type." North Georgia streams are typically rocky bottom streams with riffle and leaf packs that have no embeddedness. Leaf packs are clusters of rotting leaves and sticks stuck in the stream. Riffles are areas where the water rushes over a collection of rocks. This process provides oxygen to the water. When water is present in Site One of Marsh Creek, there are numerous riffles. Furthermore, this headwater is an ephemeral stream and typically has flowing water only during or just after a rain event.

Marsh Creek view downstream.JPG
14 June 2012 Marsh Creek site 1 downstream view of streambed.

14 June 2012

Due to a rain event occuring within the previous 24 hours, a small stream flowed through the site during the first site visit. Although the current stream is extremely small, the bankfull width and depth were great due to channeling created from extreme rain events, causing extreme erosion. After the large volume of rapidly moving water evacuated, many small staggered pools remained.




Marsh Creek view upstream.JPG
21 June 2012 Marsh Creek site 1 upstream view of a pool in the site reach.

21 June 2012

On the second site visit, the stream was reduced in size, leaving only the staggered pools behind.

Marsh Creek 28JUN12 Drybed.jpg
26 June 2012 Dry streambed.

26 June 2012

On the third site visit, the streambed was dry, and therefore no data were collected.

Marsh Creek Site 1 Stream Profile

Date
Bankfull width
in feet
Water width
in feet
Height
1
Height
2
Height
3
Height
4
Height
5
Height
6
Height
7
Height
8
Height
9
Height
10
Height
11
Height
12
Height
13
Height
14
14June2012
35
6.25
0
1.50
4.25
6.58
8.91
8.83
8.83
8.91
9.00
9.08
8.42
6.58
5.5
3.92

MarshCreekStreamProfile.jpg


Discharge

Date
Average
Depth
Average
Width
Area
Average
Time
Length
Speed
Coefficient
Stream
Flow
June 14, 2012
0.375 ft
6.25 ft
2.34 sqft
47.7 sec.
20 ft
2.385 ft/sec
.8
4.46 cfs
June 21, 2012
0.75 ft
1.67 ft
1.25 sqft
0 sec.
3 ft
0 ft/sec
.8
0 cfs
June 26, 2012
0 ft
0 ft
0 sqft
0 sec.
0 ft
0 ft/sec
.8
0 cfs

MarshCreekSite1-DischargeLevels.jpg
At Site 1, only one day had a stream discharge.

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